Vintage Charts should be used for a generalized guide in lieu of specific knowledge about a bottle or producer. The better wines from a vintage will generally have longer lives and cellar better. The ratings are as follows:

RATING:95-100 Spectacular. Most producers made very good wines at all levels90-94 Excellent. The best wines should be great. Consistency throughout the vintage.85-89 Very Good. The best producers made top wines. Inconsistent thru the lower levels.80-86 Good. Many producers made good wines with some inconsistency at the bottom.75-79 Middling. Choose your producers carefully. Only the best may have made a top wine. 70-74 Below Average. Tough vintage to make good wines.Under 70 A Poor vintage. Spend your money very carefully.

STATUS:D=DrinkD/H=Drink or HoldH=Hold

Loren Sonkin is an IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder/Winemaker at Sonkin Cellars.

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